fiend
fiend
Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling
IPA: /fiːnd/
Syllable Breakdown (1 Syllable): "fiend"
f (/f/) - A voiceless labiodental fricative, made by pressing the bottom lip against the upper teeth and blowing air.
ie (/iː/) - A long 'e' sound, as in "see" or "team."
n (/n/) - A voiced alveolar nasal, made by pressing the tip of the tongue against the ridge behind the upper teeth and letting air pass through the nose.
d (/d/) - A voiced alveolar plosive, made by tapping the tip of the tongue against the ridge behind the upper teeth.
Word Form Variations
Singular: fiend
Plural: fiends
Adjective: fiendish (relating to or resembling a fiend)
Adverb: fiendishly (in a fiendish manner)
Slang Verb (present participle/gerund): fiending (to crave something intensely, especially a drug)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: An evil supernatural being, such as a demon or devil.
Synonyms: demon, devil, ghoul, evil spirit, incubus, succubus
Antonyms: angel, cherub, seraph, spirit, deity
Definition: A person who is exceptionally cruel, malicious, or wicked.
Synonyms: monster, brute, villain, barbarian, sadist, evildoer
Antonyms: saint, angel, humanitarian, hero, paragon
Definition (Informal): A person who is intensely devoted, enthusiastic, or skilled at a particular activity; a fanatic.
Synonyms: enthusiast, fanatic, aficionado, buff, fanatic, addict, connoisseur
Antonyms: dabbler, novice, amateur, beginner
Definition (Informal): A person who is addicted to a harmful substance.
Synonyms: addict, junkie (slang), user
Antonyms: (no direct antonym)
Verb (Slang)
Definition: To crave or obsess over something with an intense, uncontrollable desire. (Often used as "fiending for...")
Synonyms: craving, longing, yearning, jonesing (slang), pining
Antonyms: loathing, hating, despising, rejecting
Examples of Use
In Literature and Publishing
The word "fiend" is a staple in literature, especially in genres like Gothic horror, fantasy, and mystery, where it is used to describe monstrous or purely evil entities.
As a monster or evil person (Definition 2): In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein frequently refers to his creation as a "fiend" to emphasize his horror and disgust, defining the creature by its perceived malevolence rather than its humanity. (Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, 1818).
As a literal demon (Definition 1): In tabletop role-playing games, the term is used specifically to classify a type of evil supernatural being. The Fiend Folio is a well-known monster manual for Dungeons & Dragons, featuring demons, devils, and other malevolent entities. (TSR, Fiend Folio, 1981).
In Newspapers and Online Publications
In journalism, "fiend" is often used as a loaded term in headlines to describe a person who has committed a heinous crime. In lifestyle or culture writing, it's used informally to mean "enthusiast."
As a cruel person (Definition 2): News headlines, particularly in tabloid-style journalism, may use the word to sensationalize a crime and depict the perpetrator as inhuman. For example: "Police search for the fiend who targeted elderly residents."
As an enthusiast (Definition 3): Lifestyle articles commonly use the word in a compound form to describe someone with a passion for something. "From Drip to Espresso: The Ultimate Gift Guide for the Coffee Fiend in Your Life."
As an addict (Definition 4): Historically, the term was heavily used to describe addiction, often with a strong negative connotation. A headline might read: "‘Dope Fiend’ Reforms: How a Victim of Drug Habit Finally Conquered the Craving..." (The New York Times, May 1921).
In Entertainment (Games, Music, and Film)
In entertainment, the word retains its dark connotations, often appearing in titles or as a central concept in horror, fantasy, and punk rock.
In Video Games: The title of the original Final Fantasy video game refers to the "Four Fiends" (Lich, Marilith, Kraken, and Tiamat), the primary antagonists representing elemental evil.
In Music: The influential horror-punk band Misfits uses a skull icon known as the "Fiend Skull" (or "Ghost Fiend") as their primary logo.
In Film: The word is frequently used in the titles of B-movie horror and sci-fi films, such as Fiend Without a Face (1958).
In General Public Discourse and Slang
In everyday conversation and on social media, the two most common uses are the informal "enthusiast" (noun) and the slang term "fiending" (verb).
As an enthusiast (Definition 3): "I’m a total crossword fiend; I can't start my morning without one."
As a slang verb (Definition 5): The verb form "to fiend" (or "fiending") has become popular slang for intense craving. On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or TikTok, a person might post, "I am absolutely fiending for tacos right now."
10 Famous Quotes Using Fiend
I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. (Mary Shelley, Frankenstein)
My father, was a drinker, and a fiend. (The Joker, The Dark Knight)
I can forgive Alfred Nobel for inventing dynamite, but only a fiend in human form could have invented the Nobel Prize. (George Bernard Shaw)
The fiend in his own shape is less hideous, than when he rages in the breast of man. (Nathaniel Hawthorne, "Young Goodman Brown")
The ordinary man with extraordinary power is the chief danger for mankind - not the fiend or the sadist. (Erich Fromm)
To be a book-collector is to combine the worst characteristics of a dope fiend with those of a miser. (Robertson Davies)
I was once a shameless, full-time dope fiend. (Gus Van Sant)
I am such a music fiend. (Austin Butler)
Socrates was a great walker. They say he was a fiend for exercise. (Bettany Hughes)
I'm a pickle fiend. (Ruskin Bond)
Etymology
The word fiend has a fascinating history that tracks its meaning from "enemy" all the way to "enthusiast."
The Origin: "The Hating One"
The word fiend comes directly from the Old English word fēond (pronounced roughly fay-ond).
This word wasn't originally supernatural. It was the common word for an enemy, foe, or adversary.
Its deepest root is tied to the Old English verb fēogan, which meant "to hate." A fēond was literally "one who hates" or "the hating one." In fact, it was the direct opposite of the word "friend" (frēond), which came from a root word meaning "to love."
How the Meaning Changed
The Ultimate Enemy: In early medieval times, as Christianity spread, fēond was used to describe the ultimate enemy of mankind: the Devil or Satan. It was often used in phrases like "the fiend of hell."
Demons and Evil People: From there, its meaning expanded to include any demon, evil spirit, or diabolical being. By the 1200s, it was also being used to describe an exceptionally wicked or cruel person—someone who acted like a demon.
Addiction: Much later, in the 1800s, the meaning took an informal turn. It was used to describe someone "fiendishly" devoted to a bad habit, leading to terms like "dope fiend" or "opium fiend" (an addict).
Enthusiast: Finally, in modern times, this idea of intense devotion was softened even more. Today, we call someone a "coffee fiend" or a "fitness fiend," which simply means they are a passionate enthusiast or fanatic, having lost its original sense of hatred and evil entirely.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Fiend
Here is a list of phrases and idioms using the word "fiend," supplemented with related expressions.
A fiend for (something) (e.g., "a fiend for cleanliness," "a fiend for details")
Dope fiend / Drug fiend
Coffee fiend
Fitness fiend
Fresh-air fiend
Crossword fiend
A fiend in human form
To fiend (for) (Slang phrase meaning to crave something intensely)
The Fiend (A literary or archaic reference to the Devil)
Fiend-like (or fiendish)
(To work) like a demon
(To be a) demon for (work/speed)
Speak of the devil
Devil's advocate
The green-eyed monster (referring to jealousy)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of fiend from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
